Foster to contest Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat

The DUP have announced that Arlene Foster will contest the Fermanagh and South Tyrone seat at the next general election.

The former UUP party member said she had set her sights on dislodging current MP, Sinn Féin's Michelle Gildernew, who, she said, had done untold damage to the unionist psyche in the area.

"We have not been well served by a Member of Parliament who denies us a voice at Westminster, but it is about much more than her refusal to swear the oath," the DUP MLA said.

"We have not been well served by a Member of Parliament when she and her party remain connected to an armed and active terrorist organisation. A terrorist organisation which ravaged this constituency with a squalid campaign of bombings and shootings."

However, the decision by the DUP to run in Fermanagh and South Tyrone has been criticised by the Ulster Unionist Party.

A UUP spokesman said: "It is deceit of the highest degree that Mrs Foster has climbed through her political career using the UUP as an instrument to achieve her position, then immediately deserting the Party that put her to that position and in the process attempting to create as much damage to the Unionist cause as possible.

"These recent acts must surely rank among the leaders of deceit and duplicity within the political world. This is more about a DUP publicity stunt and treating the voters with contempt than about helping Unionism."

But, Arlene Foster hit back at the remarks. "I know that some in the unionist family are unimpressed by my position, just as I do not agree with some of their views. However, I say to them that that is irrelevant to this campaign.

"My sights are set firmly on Sinn Fein/IRA. Ms Gildernew, you should know that unionists have not rolled over and conceded Fermanagh and South Tyrone to you. You should know that we have not gone away either," she concluded.

(MB)